How to Change Google Slide Dimensions: A Simple Guide for Better Presentations

When I first started using Google Slides, I didn’t think twice about slide size. I’d open a new presentation and start designing immediately. But over time, especially when I began presenting on different screens and devices, I realized how important the right Google Slide dimensions can be.

Whether you're creating a deck for a laptop, a projector, a printed handout, or even a mobile screen, the slide size you choose can make a huge difference in how your content looks and feels. The good news? Changing the slide dimensions in Google Slides is quick and simple.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the available slide sizes, how to change them, what to watch out for afterward, and a few tools that can save time during the process.

Why Google Slide Dimensions Matter

Slide dimensions might seem like a small detail, but they affect everything from how your content appears to how easy it is for your audience to absorb your message. A presentation built with the wrong size may look stretched, cut off, or just plain awkward on the wrong screen.

By understanding and choosing the right Google Slide dimensions, you can tailor your presentation to your audience and the platform you're presenting on, whether it's a phone screen, a big projector, or a printed page.

What Slide Sizes Are Available in Google Slides?

Google Slides comes with a few preset options for slide size, and it also allows for fully custom dimensions. Let’s break them down:

Widescreen (16:9) – The Modern Default

This is the standard format when you start a new Google Slides presentation. It’s optimized for modern displays, including laptops, large screens, and projectors.

Default dimensions: 960 x 540 pixels

Other common 16:9 sizes: 1280 x 720, 1920 x 1080

This is the most widely used format for a reason, it looks great on almost any screen.

Standard (4:3) – For Print and Classic Displays

This more square-shaped format used to be the standard in older versions of PowerPoint and early display screens.

Common dimensions: 1024 x 768, 1280 x 960

If you're planning to print your slides or present on older equipment, these Google Slide dimensions can be a smart choice.

Widescreen (16:10) – Ideal for Creative Professionals

Slightly taller than 16:9, this format is often used on devices with more vertical space, like tablets or design-focused monitors.

Common dimensions: 1280 x 800, 1920 x 1200

Its proportions are close to the Golden Ratio, which many designers consider more visually balanced.

Custom – Create Your Own Dimensions

Need a vertical layout for a phone or an 8.5 x 11-inch slide for printing? Choose Custom to input your own Google Slide dimensions using inches, centimeters, points, or pixels.

For example:

To create a printable handout, enter 8.5 x 11 inches in the Page setup.

How to Change Google Slide Dimensions

Once you've picked the size that best fits your needs, here’s how to change it:

Open your Google Slides presentation.

Click File > Page setup.

Select a preset (Standard or Widescreen) or choose Custom.

Enter your desired dimensions and select the unit (inches, pixels, etc.).

Click Apply.

That’s it! The entire presentation will update to reflect the new size.

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Keep in mind: You can’t resize individual slides, this setting applies to the full deck.

What to Expect After Resizing Your Slides

Changing your Google Slide dimensions can sometimes shift your layout in unexpected ways. I always recommend reviewing your slides after resizing to catch any formatting issues like:

Images or shapes becoming misaligned

Text boxes overlapping or cutting off

Background images getting stretched

Animations behaving differently

Charts or diagrams not scaling properly

If you're making a major size change, like switching from horizontal to vertical, it’s a good idea to make a copy of your presentation first. Go to File > Make a copy > Entire presentation, and you’ll have a backup just in case you need it.

Need a Faster Way? Use Smart Tools

If reformatting slides one by one sounds tedious (because it often is), there are tools that can help you handle it more efficiently.

One I often use is MagicSlides, a Google Slides add-on powered by AI. It’s especially useful when:

You want to generate a presentation in a specific size from scratch

You’ve changed the slide size and need the layout to auto-adjust

You want to maintain consistent formatting without starting over

MagicSlides doesn’t replace Google Slides, it works alongside it. So when I want to resize or rebuild slides quickly, it saves me time without sacrificing quality.

Final Thoughts

Understanding how to adjust your Google Slide dimensions gives you more control over your presentations. Whether you're designing for screens, print, or mobile, it's an easy way to make your content more impactful.

Once you get comfortable with these adjustments, you’ll find that customizing slide dimensions becomes a simple way to level up your presentation design.

FAQs

Q: What are the default Google Slide dimensions?

A: The default size is 960 x 540 pixels, which uses a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio.

Q: Can I use 1920 x 1080 in Google Slides?

A: Absolutely. Just go to Page setup > Custom, enter those numbers, and select “Pixels.”

Q: How do I make slides 8.5 x 11 inches?

A: Choose Custom from Page setup, enter 8.5 and 11, and select “Inches.” This is perfect for printing.

Q: Can I set different slide sizes within one presentation?

A: No, Google Slides only supports one size per presentation.

Q: Is MagicSlides part of Google Slides?

A: No, it’s an optional AI add-on that integrates with Google Slides. It helps automate slide creation and formatting, especially when you’re working with specific dimensions or large decks.